Lynn Haven to vote tonight on annual budget

The proposed budget almost doubles capital outlay funding and exactly doubles the mayor and commissioners' pay.

COLLIN BREAUX News Herald Reporter @PCNHCollinB

LYNN HAVEN — The Lynn Haven City Commission this afternoon is expected to vote on an expanded annual budget.

The city's proposed 2017-18 fiscal budget, which goes into effect in October, is based on a projected revenue of $30.7 million — a 25 percent increase over the $24.4 million budget for fiscal 2016-17. In addition to the city's usual revenue sources such as services and fees, the city's half-cent sales tax helped provide the bump this year.

Personnel and operating expenses both show modest increases, while proposed capital outlay funding almost doubles from $4.3 million to $8.3 million.

City manager Michael White said the budget includes plans for new ball fields and a major stormwater plan. White, hired in July, finished drafting the budget begun by former City Manager Joel Schubert, who now works as the county's assistant manager.

One proposed increase that has raised some residents' eyebrows is an across-the-board doubling of the commissioners' stipends. The increase would bump Mayor Margo Anderson's annual pay from $8,676 to $17,352 and the four other commissioners from $7,476 to $14,952.

Anderson said last week the increased stipend — which covers public office expenses such as time and travel — is justified for the work commissioners do. The stipends still are lower than those paid to commissioners and mayors in Panama City and Panama City Beach, all of which exceed $20,000.

Commissioner Judy Tinder said some of her constituents have asked her to vote no on the increase, some recommending a smaller percentage increase instead of doubling the stipend.

“I have a lot of respect for the Walkers because they do their homework,” Tinder said. “They look at the budget very carefully.